Issue 92 | July 2012 onThe newsletter stage of Stagecoach Group Your 2012 Stagecoach Champions Commitment to excellence wins praise OUR 2012 Stagecoach Champions have outstanding performance and commitment across been unveiled. six categories. Gold, silver and bronze awards were Around 150 nominations were received from handed out and winners will receive cash prizes.’ across the Group and the winners were decided Helen Mahy said: “The quality of entries was by a panel of Helen Mahy, Chair of the Board’s extremely high and we congratulate all the Health, Safety and Environment Committee, winners for their commitment to excellence Stagecoach Group co-founder and non-executive which is an inspiration to us all.” Director Ann Gloag and Steven Stewart, Director of Corporate Communications. Turn to page 6 for a full At the Group management conference report on the winners. in London, winners were praised for their Lighting Double success at Transport Awards the way STAGECOACH Group and Comfort- out on top in the Innovation Transport Project STAGECOACH DelGro celebrated double success at the of the Year category at the industry event. employees Mike Reid, 2012 Scottish Transport Awards as their Scottish Citylink and megabus.com General Frank Roberts, Daniel coach operations scooped two top awards. Manager Ian Laing said: “We are thrilled to win Opoku and Ashley Scottish Citylink – a joint venture between two such high-profile awards and I would like Ayers had the honour Mike Reid. Stagecoach and international transport group to thank all of our staff who are at the heart of of taking part in the ComfortDelGro – won one of the most sought- delivering coach services for our customers. UK’s Olympic Torch after awards of the night as it was named Bus “Through innovative ideas and affordable fares, Relay after being Operator of the Year at the Glasgow awards we are proving that coach travel is a high-quality, selected as torchbear- ceremony. fast and comfortable alternative to the car and ers. And the groundbreaking megabus.com we will continue to work hard to attract even East Scotland bus driver overnight sleeper coach service, which is also more people on to our greener, smarter coach Mike, who is a community part of the Scottish Citylink joint venture, came services.” favourite and has raised Frank Roberts. thousands of pounds for good causes over a number of years, said he was honoured to be chosen to take part in the torch procession in Fife. South West Trains employee Frank, a former soldier and keen fund-raiser has raised £100,000 for charity over the years. He has also fundraised for the Swanage Railway Trust and is heavily involved in the Swanage steam railway. Frank said: “After 30 years of supporting charities I’m delighted to be able to receive this recognition. This is a proud moment for me.” Daniel Opoku has also worked for South West Trains for 17 years and was put forward to participate as a torchbearer because of his passion and commitment to customer service. Daniel said: “Being a part of the global showcase is very exciting as the Olympics is the biggest sporting event in the world.” Andover driver Ashley Ayers paid a surprise visit with his torch to a local Brownies group, (L-r): Awards host Grant Stott, Scottish Citylink Commercial Manager Aiden Proctor, run by fellow Stagecoach employee Theresa ComfortDelGro CEO Jaspal Singh, Stagecoach UK Bus Deputy Managing Director Bob Montague. Montgomery, Scottish Citylink and megabus.com General Manager Ian Laing and Transport Scotland Chief Executive David Middleton. 1 uk bus on stage You what?! Stagecoach employees to Overheard on the Stagecoach Group answerphone Caller:“I have a crush on a certain play key Olympics role bus driver and I was wondering if you STAGECOACH bus and rail employees Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Sir Brian could find out whether or not he fancies from across the UK are to play a key role in Souter said: “The London 2012 Games are a me and give me a call back, or would supporting the 2012 London Olympic and once in a lifetime opportunity for our people you perhaps advise that I should write Paralympic Games. to be involved in a global event on this scale. We him a letter and if I send it to you could Employees from Orkney in Scotland to Porth are proud to be involved in the Games and look you perhaps pass it on to in Wales and Dover in England will play an forward to helping make the event a success for him.” important part in delivering public transport for spectators and athletes alike. We also send our best the global sporting event this summer. wishes to the British Olympic and Paralympic Can you beat that? More than 2,630 Stagecoach bus drivers and teams. The whole country is behind them and Send your weird and support staff will help provide transport for we all hope they are among the medals when the wonderful overheard athletes and media throughout the Games after competition starts.” comments to the transport operator was selected by the London Stagecoach will manage two bus depots lindsay.reid@ Organising Committee for the Olympic Games throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games – stagecoachgroup. (LOCOG) to deliver one of the largest transport one at West Ham and one at Beckton. Stagecoach com contracts for the event. West Scotland Operations Director Rob Jones and And Stagecoach Group’s rail franchises – South Stagecoach East Midlands Operations Director West Trains and East Midlands Trains – are among Richard Kay have been appointed as depot the UK rail operators providing additional services General Managers, while Stagecoach Midlands and extra capacity throughout the Olympic and Operations Director Elizabeth Esnouf was Paralympic Games, as well as special tickets for seconded to the role of Olympic Project Director Olympic Games spectators. in 2011. TWO anniversaries were celebrated recently as Stagecoach and the Aldershot Happy anniversary & District Bus Interest Group invited the public to have a fun day on the buses as they commemorated the 100th Basingstoke driver Bob Hannam with Paul anniversary of the founding of the Ferreira and Richard Fernandez. original local bus company, Aldershot & District Traction Co. Ltd, and 20 years of Cycle challenge bus operations throughout the Aldershot, BUS drivers, engineering and ad- Farnham and Blackwater Valley area by its ministration staff from Stagecoach’s successor Stagecoach. Basingstoke and Winchester depots Andrew Dyer, Stagecoach South Managing launched the company’s Green awareness Director, said: “Imagine telling someone in (From left) Aldershot & District Bus Interest week in the South by cycling just over 24 1912 that buses would offer Wi-Fi, low floor Group Event organiser Bill Tutty with miles between bus stations. easy access, and that travel could be paid for in Stagecoach’s Assistant Operations Manager Colin Basingstoke came out on top and lead riders advance using smart cards – and that pensioners Stratford and a 1954 AEC Reliance with the Paul Ferreira for Basingstoke and Richard would be given passes to travel free!” latest Enviro 200 single. Fernandez from Winchester passed each other in New Alresford. Both completed the course within 1 hour 34 minutes. Dave Fulford, Assistant Operations Manager View from the top said: “Many of the participants did very well BUSES on Stagecoach London’s route 205, considering they are not cycling daily.” which runs from Paddington to Bow, have had a novel artwork fitted to their upper deck ceilings depicting life on High Street 2012 (the route Smartcard completion from the City to the Olympic Stadium between STAGECOACH has become the Aldgate and Bow). first major bus operator in the country Organised by Susan Langford MBE of the Magic to accept smartcards for concession- Me charity, the images were created by 100 children ary journeys on every one of its vehicles from three primary schools and local older people who outside London. worked with printmaker Janet Brooke and poet Surya The technology now covers the Perth-based Turner to make a 10-metre artwork to decorate the group’s 19 regional bus companies in Scotland, upper ceiling of the double decker buses. England and Wales and means that passengers Stagecoach London Operations Director, Diane with National Concessionary Travel Scheme Hannan, said: “This project has identified places of smartcards now simply need to place their card interest in a unique way and I am confident that our on the ticket machine when they board the bus passengers travelling on Route 205 will enjoy the and their journey will be recorded electronically. The artwork on the ceiling of the bus. whole experience.” 2 uk bus on stage Praise for brave Lionel LONDON bus driver Lionel Mummery Lionel started driving the bus away from the has been commended for his actions while area for his own safety. on duty during the London riots last year. The bus was severely damaged, with the The Bromley Garage driver had dropped windscreen smashed on both sides as a result of passengers off on the advice of police and missiles being thrown at it. Despite this, Lionel The victorious Stagecoach Merseyside football was attempting to turn the bus around when continued to drive the bus away from danger to team. the steering wheel was grabbed through the Catford Bus Garage where he was then treated window by a youth involved in the surrounding for his injury. Back of the net disorder. His actions were praised as ‘nothing short of Lionel was then punched through the remarkable’ at the Safer Transport Command STAGECOACH Merseyside’s football cab window and the window was smashed, Commendation Ceremony in London for team have won the Volvo Cup for the shattering glass all over the inside of the driver’s helping to prevent further damaging the vehicle second time in three years.